Sports Betting in Canada: Ultimate Guide for Canadians

Canadians successfully combine their two favourite hobbies of gambling and sports into one by betting on sports events. Every year, fans of excitement bet and win millions of dollars in betting on Super Bowl, NHL, NBA, NFL and other competitions.

In this guide, we cover all the basics of sports betting Canada, including how odds work, betting on the most popular sports, and selection criteria for the best sports betting sites Canada.

Sports Betting Canada Highlights

Until recently, betting on a single game was illegal in Canada. For this reason, residents of Alberta and the country as a whole place stake either based on a bet, that is, on the results of several sports events at the same time, or used the services of offshore sites.

The cardinal changes in sports betting Canada’s industry occurred on August 27, 2021. Then the Canadian government finally passed a law that allows betting on single games. This event was a huge boost for the industry. New regulated markets for singles sports betting were presented in seven provinces, including British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Labrador, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

As for Alberta, the province joined the ones where singles betting is legal on September 1 of the same year. From that moment on, betting on Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup, and many other sporting events became available to fans of the provincial sporting events.

Sports Available for Betting in Canada

In addition to betting on Super Bowl, the list of sports events and sports that Canadians can bet on is quite diverse. Even Raptors fans will find something on this list for themselves.

  • Baseball, football and hokey matches
  • Basketball, tennis and golf games
  • Boxing fights
  • Darts and cricket
  • F1 races
  • Horse races
  • Summer and Winters Olympics
  • E-sports
  • Rugby league, etc

Betting on Super Bowl

It is one of the biggest sports events in the world. Every time betting on Super Bowl sets records for the number of wagers. This is an unforgettable experience for Canadian bettors, thanks to legal offline and online bookmakers.

Sports Betting Canada: Understanding Odds

The first thing everyone who wants to wager on sports needs to understand is the principle of odds. If the types of bets in the NHL, NBA or betting on Super Bowl are different, then the odds are usually the same for all sports.

The best sports betting sites Canada offer three basic coefficient types: British or fractional, European or decimal (Canadian), and money line or American. The example below explains how this works.

Coefficient Type

Bet

Win

Return

Odds

Money line

$100

$750

$850

+750

Decimal

$1

$7,50

$8,50

8.50

Fractional

$2

$15

$17

15/2

 

Canadian bookmakers, including those that offer betting on Super Bowl, most often use decimal odds. This coefficient reflects the total payout that the bettor will receive if they win, including the initial wager. As shown in the table above, a bet with odds of 8.50 means that by betting $1, the player will receive $8.50 in total.

Canada Sports Betting Options

A range of bets is available to Canadian players today. In our guide, we have described the most popular and profitable ones, ranging from spread and money line to real-time betting, available even in betting on Super Bowl.

Express or multi-bets

It involves betting on several sporting events or games at the same time.

Money line

It is a bet on the team you think will win the game.

Sports betting in real-time

As the name implies, these are bets during a game or match.

Total or over/under bet

The bookmaker sets the total number of points the two teams must score. Then, you bet on whether this amount will be less than or greater than the total set by the operator.

Futures betting

It is a bet on an outcome or event that will occur in the future, for example, in a week or a day. Most often, these are bets on the results of the season end or the championship

Spread

This is a bet on the superiority of one team or player over another. For example, the bookmaker indicated a spread of -2 when a certain team wins. That is, the team must win by two points for the bettor receives a payout.

Optional, additional or offer bets

This is a bet on events during the match that may or may not affect the game’s outcome. For example, you can bet on the number of shots a certain player makes in a certain basketball game.

Sports Betting Canada: Understanding Odds

The first thing everyone who wants to wager on sports needs to understand is the principle of odds. If the types of bets in the NHL, NBA or betting on Super Bowl are different, then the odds are usually the same for all sports.

The best sports betting sites Canada offer three basic coefficient types: British or fractional, European or decimal (Canadian), and money line or American. The example below explains how this works.

Coefficient Type

Bet

Win

Return

Odds

Money line

$100

$750

$850

+750

Decimal

$1

$7,50

$8,50

8.50

Fractional

$2

$15

$17

15/2

Canadian bookmakers, including those that offer betting on Super Bowl, most often use decimal odds. This coefficient reflects the total payout that the bettor will receive if they win, including the initial wager. As shown in the table above, a bet with odds of 8.50 means that by betting $1, the player will receive $8.50 in total.

Golden Rules in Sports Betting

These tips are compiled based on the experience of many bettors and our experts. They do not guarantee victory but will allow you to get the most out of the process.

1. Choose the best sports betting sites Canada for great odds and a wide selection of wagers and events, including betting on Super Bowl.

2. Pay attention to sites that offer various bonuses and regularly hold promotions for registered players.

3. Pay attention to niche sports. If you understand this, you can increase your chances of winning.

4. Always stick to the pre-set budget allocated to bets.

5. Analyze games before placing bets.

Best Sports Betting Sites Canada to Play on Mobile

Industry research shows that more than half of sports bettors wager using mobile devices. As a result, many of the best sports betting sites Canada offer iPhone and Android-friendly versions to Canadians. Thus, betting on your favourite sport has become even more convenient and faster.

In addition to mobile versions of sites, bookmakers also offer to download a free application. This will allow you to access all the site’s features, including various odds and wager types and betting on Super Bowl.

What to Look for in Picking the Best Sports Betting Sites Canada

When choosing the best sports betting sites Canada, you should follow a number of criteria. After all, sports betting should bring positive emotions and pleasure. For this reason, we strongly recommend playing on legal bookmaker sites.

Odds and Sports

The best sports betting sites Canada offer great odds and a wide selection of all kinds of sports and sporting events.

Licensing and Security

All top bookmakers in Canada are licensed and regularly audited by such reputable organizations as the Malta Gaming Authority and eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. As well, such sites use SSL encryption innovative technologies, providing a high level of data protection.

Secure Payment Systems

Pay attention to bookmakers that work with reliable and proven payment systems. Such systems guarantee the safety of the bettor’s funds and the quick withdrawal of winnings.

Professional Support Service

Under the guise of players, our experts tested the best sports betting sites Canada customer support service. Their main criteria are a short response time to a request, qualification and availability 24/7.

FAQs